Battle of Yorktown Mural Restored by Grace Church and the Community in time for Yorktown Day

Battle of Yorktown Mural Restored by Grace Church and the Community in time for Yorktown Day

Posted by Pam Mason, Community Contributor

The photograph, courtesy of Grace Church Yorktown, depicts several of the 20 volunteers repainting and detailing the Read Street Battle of Yorktown Mural on September 24 2016.

The photograph, courtesy of Grace Church Yorktown, depicts several of the 20 volunteers repainting and detailing the Read Street Battle of Yorktown Mural on September 24 2016. (Posted by Pam Mason, Community Contributor)

Posted by Pam Mason, Community Contributor

A band of volunteers from Historic Grace Episcopal Church, Yorktown (ca 1697), the Coast Guard and the Colonial National Historical Park (CNHP) have given a fresh face to mural on the retaining wall along Reed Street in Yorktown Virginia . Read Street is one of the three original streets (1691) that connected Water Street to Main Street on the bluff. The others are Buckner Street (known as "Tobacco Warehouses Hill") and the "Great Valley." Grace Church is situated between Church and Read Streets.

The 200 foot mural depicting the battle of Yorktown was looking a bit tired. It was peeling, faded and partially overgrown with English ivy. First painted in 1986 as a community effort including Grace Church, the mural has been touched up a least once since then. The mural was designed by Tabb High School student Bonnie Gibson as a result of an initiative by Tabb High School art teacher Sherry Hodges.

A call this past August from Michael Donato of the CNHP to Rev. Carleton Bakkum of Grace Church pointed out the need for another update. The target timeline was to finish before Yorktown Day, October 19th. The challenge was met as the wall was prepped for painting by removal of the ivy and a powerwash on September 17 by Grace Church volunteers. On September 24, a group of about 20 volunteers showed up to start painting. There was more wall prep as areas were brushed to remove peeling paint. Then the group tackled the sunset and the silhouette to bring new life to the mural. After some 6 hours of hard work, the wall was finished late afternoon that same day. Grace Church Parishioners Lori and Sam Gillespie caught a special vision for the project. They covered the total cost of materials, did the power washing and saw the painting through to the end. CNHP provided brushes, ladders, and paint rollers. A "Well Done" to all!!. This mural will be enjoyed by both residents of Yorktown and visitors for years to come!!